Malcolm Hotel GM Andrew Shepherd shares how reading body language in the first 10 seconds, leveraging guest data, and investing in 154 staff housing units drives exceptional guest experiences.
Kat Florence Hotel, the intimate luxury retreat built by seven-time world record-breaking rare gemstone artist Kat Florence, unveils its most significant evolution since opening. On September 1, the hotel will introduce The Kat Florence Reserve, a private 100-acre wilderness sanctuary; the Imperial Jade Manor, an exclusive, 1870's Canadian heritage residence featuring jaw-dropping restorations like a 6-figure custom stone hot bath beneath the stars and Canada's first Top Chef Winner as guests' Private On-Site Chef; an evolving collection of some of the world's most extraordinary, multi-million-dollar Kat Florence gemstones imbedded in the hotel's very walls; and a series of stay-inclusive, nightly culinary experiences led by internationally acclaimed celebrity and Royal Chefs.
voco The Franklin New York by IHG, an upscale urban retreat located within Manhattan's prestigious Upper East Side, has unveiled a renovation that enhances the property's intimate character while preserving the historic charm that has made the building a longstanding neighborhood fixture. The revamp transformed each of the hotel's 49 guestrooms, along with the lobby and public spaces, creating an elevated guest experience that balances New York’s classic character with contemporary comfort.
Ideally nestled between Key West Harbor and vibrant Mallory Square, Ocean Key Resort & Spa is announcing the completion of its property-wide renovation ahead of the 47th annual Fantasy Fest, taking place October 16-25, 2026. The multi-phase reimagination encompasses a comprehensive redesign of the resort’s guestrooms and suites, signature Hot Tin Roof restaurant, White Ibis Boardroom, lobby, and public spaces throughout the property, further elevating Ocean Key as Key West’s premier waterfront destination, while offering a fresh, elevated way to experience one of the island’s most anticipated annual celebrations.
Meyer Jabara Hotels will manage the 36-room Reitz Union Hotel at the University of Florida, its first university property, with plans for expanded sales, marketing, and potential renovation within two years.
Chaminade Resort & Spa has debuted a $7.5 million transformation of all 156 guestrooms and suites, completing the newest chapter in the landmark Santa Cruz resort's broader redevelopment. The renovation brings Chaminade's elevated Spanish-inspired design into the guestroom experience, creating a more seamless arrival-to-stay journey across the resort's refreshed lobby, restaurants, meeting and event spaces, outdoor gathering areas and now its private accommodations.
Expedia data shows fall 2026 lodging prices are 20% higher than summer in the top 10 U.S. destinations, eroding traditional shoulder-season savings, though six cities still offer 15-45% combined discounts.
Is fitness over? It was never the destination. It was always about wellness, and wellness has two dimensions, not just one. Wellness is that of an individual's mind, body, spirit, soul. Sustainability is wellness of a people, a place, and the planet.
An important aspect to consider is that people vary widely in their interest level when it comes to fitness. While physical movement is a fundamental part of well-being, not everyone is interested in making strides in fitness or recreational activities.
Kennedy Lewis Investment Management and the Justice Family Group completed a joint venture for The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, with Lloyd Nathan appointed as board chairman to oversee long-term capital investment.
The Madison Marriott South, located at 706 John Nolen Dr., has completed a series of renovations to its guest rooms, meeting spaces and public areas following its transition from a Sheraton hotel.
A case study from a 130-room Mid-Atlantic hotel shows how a new GM cut breakfast cost per occupied room by 21% in 90 days by addressing unauthorized access, chronic abusers, and untracked compensation.
Valley Bear Farms & Resort announced the construction of four new lodging units to be completed by August 2026. Financing for the resort expansion was provided in part by Oakworth Capital Bank in Charlotte. Nestled on 200 private acres in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest, Valley Bear Farms offers a luxury mountain escape unlike anything else in Western North Carolina.
HHM Hotels absorbs Wurzak Hotel Group's managed portfolio, adding premium and lifestyle properties in Philadelphia and South Florida including The Dalmar and Moxy St. Petersburg.
Williams, who helped grow ESA's franchise portfolio to nearly 200 hotels, will retire at end of 2026; the company is actively recruiting his successor.
Valor Hospitality takes on management of The Monsaraz in Point Loma, its first West Coast property, with plans to expand further into California and other Western states.
U.S. hotels posted a 7.2% RevPAR gain for the week of 2-8 August 2026, with Philadelphia and Chicago leading Top 25 Markets while Miami and Nashville saw notable declines.
Stellen San Diego Gaslamp, a new boutique lifestyle hotel inspired by the character and evolving identity of downtown San Diego, will debut in the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter in early 2027. The property, located just blocks from the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, and the waterfront, is set to become a welcoming gathering place for travelers and locals, blending thoughtful design, genuine hospitality, and a strong sense of connection to the surrounding neighborhood.
The booking itself isn't the important part—it's the fact that it can be fully tracked from an AI conversation to a completed reservation.Right now, AI advertising generates very little volume, but every new channel starts small.Hotel metasearch followed a similar path before becoming a major source of direct bookings.AI could go even further because it helps travellers discover hotels, not just compare prices.Instead of searching, clicking and comparing multiple websites, people may eventually book through one conversation.If that happens, AI will become both a discovery tool and a booking channel.Hotels will need to make their prices, availability and hotel information easy for AI to understand.It's too early to draw conclusions from one booking, but it's an interesting sign of where hotel distribution could be heading.The real milestone isn't the ROAS—it's proving that an AI conversation can lead directly to a measurable booking.
The initial response—cool! How gratifying to witness this given all your years in this space. I was at Google last week hearing firsthand how digital advertising is evolving in this new search era.By comparison, Metasearch aggregated rates and redirected intent.
Booking.com just recently shared that only 1% of their revenue is presently generated via AI traffic. Doesn't seem like much, and at first glance this low figure seems to corroborate the view that AI is primarily a top- and mid-funnel channel.
A closed-door HITEC San Antonio debate between PMS CEOs and hotel CIOs exposes structural gaps in hospitality tech, from labor-cost bias to the myth of seamless cloud integration.
Penn State's School of Hospitality Management will recognize 14 alumni at its 2026 Awards Reception on Sept. 30, including a new Chairperson's Award ahead of the school's 90th anniversary in 2027.